Bank of England Proposes Systemic Sterling Stablecoin Backing Asset Rules ∞ Regulation

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Briefing

The Bank of England has initiated a consultation on its proposed regulatory regime for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins, formally defining the prudential framework for digital settlement assets in the UK. This action mandates a specific reserve structure for non-bank issuers, allowing them to hold up to 60% of backing assets in short-term UK government debt, with the remaining 40% required as unremunerated deposits at the Bank of England. The consultation is open until February 10, 2026, marking the next critical milestone in the UK’s phased implementation of its digital asset strategy.

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Context

Prior to this proposal, the UK lacked a bespoke regulatory framework for stablecoins, with most operating under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011. This created legal ambiguity regarding prudential standards and systemic risk management, particularly for assets intended for widespread payment use. The prevailing challenge was establishing a robust, systemic regime that ensured public confidence and financial stability without stifling innovation, moving beyond the limited scope of existing e-money rules and the FCA’s non-systemic regime.

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Analysis

This proposal fundamentally alters the product structuring and treasury management for stablecoin issuers targeting the UK market. The 60/40 backing asset mandate introduces a precise, systemic control that directly impacts an issuer’s revenue model and liquidity risk profile. Firms must update their treasury management and compliance frameworks to accommodate the specific asset composition and the requirement for a UK subsidiary to hold these assets in trust.

The temporary holding limits for individuals and businesses are designed as a risk mitigation control to manage the transition and prevent disorderly market adoption from destabilizing the broader credit economy. The framework compels non-bank issuers to adopt a banking-like prudential architecture.

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Parameters

Backing Asset Composition ∞ 60% short-term UK government debt / 40% unremunerated BoE deposits. Explanation ∞ The required split for mature systemic stablecoin issuers’ reserve assets.
Individual Holding Limit ∞ £20,000. Explanation ∞ The temporary maximum amount an individual can hold in a systemic stablecoin.
Business Holding Limit ∞ £10 million. Explanation ∞ The temporary maximum amount a business can hold in a systemic stablecoin, subject to exemptions.
Consultation Deadline ∞ February 10, 2026. Explanation ∞ The date for submitting formal feedback on the proposed regulatory regime.

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Outlook

The next phase involves industry response to the consultation, which closes in February 2026, followed by the finalization of Codes of Practice later that year. The BoE’s explicit permission for non-bank issuers to generate yield on 60% of reserves sets a powerful precedent for other jurisdictions balancing prudential safety with commercial viability. The dual-regime approach ∞ BoE for systemic, FCA for non-systemic ∞ is likely to become a global model for market structure, signaling that regulatory clarity is now a key driver of market access and competitive advantage.

The Bank of England’s systemic stablecoin framework establishes a clear, dual-regime prudential standard that is critical for integrating digital settlement assets into the core UK financial architecture.

Sterling stablecoins, Systemic stablecoins, Digital settlement assets, Prudential regulation, Reserve requirements, Backing assets, UK government debt, Central bank deposits, Non-bank issuers, Financial stability, Payment systems, Operational resilience, Retail holding limits, Regulatory perimeter, Financial services law, Risk mitigation controls, Capital requirements, Joint regulation, Compliance framework, Transition period Signal Acquired from ∞ bankofengland.co.uk